2011
12.10.2011 Gentlemen on horseback
For weeks, four ambitious riders have been training for large and small horses at the ZRFV with one common goal in mind: the riding badge!
"Everyone trot and trot lightly, sitting up straight and keeping your rein fists up" - that's the command given by riding instructor Clemens Janinhoff at the beginning of the men's riding lesson. For eight weeks now, four ambitious riders have been meeting every Thursday at 8 p.m. in the hall of the breeding, riding and driving association for large and small horses on the Vogelsrauh, with one goal firmly in mind: the riding badge.
"When the guys came up with the idea, I thought they were joking, but they really want to get the badge," says Clemens Janinhoff. In the meantime, the wheat has been separated from the chaff in the riding group. Just four brave riders out of the previous seven fight their way closer to their goal Thursday after Thursday.
Dirk Köhne, Carsten Köhne, Stefan Musch and Philipp Brune discovered their passion for horses early on. "We have all been involved in equestrian sports for a long time," says Dirk Köhne. The intention of getting into the saddle and then passing the test for the riding badge came to the people of Kirchhellen during the first shooting exercise. Since then, the school horses Chaplin, Lilly, Ben Boy and Stefan Musch's own horse Jerome have been the faithful companions of the four riders. And it is important for the heroes in breeches not only to stay on horseback, but also to adhere to special rules. A penalty is charged for being late, for cell phones on the horse or for “forgetting your cap” as well as for contradicting them. And the penalty fund is constantly filling up. Clemens Janinhoff can laugh about it, the boss in the train is happy about so much ambition. “In January the four of them will be so fit, then it's time to jump”, says the experienced riding
instructor.